Two a penny

In the midst of retirement Sherlock Holmes is lured into what he believes to be a simple missing-person case. While investigating his new case an apparent miracle saves his life and causes him to begin to question his own world-view. His client the lovely and devout Miss Elizabeth Hackberry off ers him an explanation for the life-saving miracle‚an explanation that challenges all that he knows and believes. In his attempt to prove or disprove Miss Hackberry‚s belief that God was the One who saved his life Holmes reaches the conclusion that he must personally investigate the most controversial ancient mystery of all time‚the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a result Holmes and Dr. Watson set out on a dangerous journey to Jerusalem. Along the way they face imprisonment slavery starvation sheiks and evil spiritual practitioners. An Opened Grave most likely will find its way into the hands of doubting friends and family members of the Christian audience. The story draws… Comments (0)

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Hip-hop star Savage has revealed he lost 27 relatives in the previous month’s Samoan tsunami.

“It’s really personal for me,” he told the Samoa Observer newspaper.

Savage, real name Demetrius Savelio, hails from Lalomanu, the epicentre of the tsunami which killed 143 people in Samoa.

Savage’s relatives at Poutasi, further along the coast, lost their houses.

He told the newspaper of his connections with the Taufua family which lost 13 members and on his mother’s side which lost 14 members.

Some of the killed relatives and the beach at Lalomanu feature in Savage’s video made earlier this year, I love the Islands.

“All that put in a nutshell is hard to swallow,” said Savage. .

The Samoa Observer said Savage was in tears recalling the memories of pristine sandy beaches and breathtaking views of the south coast when he made the video. He helped organise ther recent fundraising concert in Auckland at Vector Arena, called I Love the Islands.

“It’s a video clip I take a lot of pride in.

“My single I Love the Islands was like the last raw footage of what the beach was like,” he said.

“It’s hard for us Samoans in New Zealand because we’re so far away watching the news in the comfort of our homes to see the devastation of our families and villages. To now see it on TV gives you a bit of sorrow and sadness because you know now what we were standing on back then is all gone,” he told the Observer. It was important for us to come back here. It was important for us to come back here

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A 25-year-old man has been arrested following an hour-long police pursuit of a stolen bread delivery truck through the Manawatu overnight.

The incident began in Foxton shortly before 3am, when a bread delivery man had his truck stolen by a man wielding a hammer, central police communications Inspector Paul Jermy said.

Shortly afterwards, police spotted the truck on State Highway 1, south of Foxton and attempted to stop it.

Despite the tyres deflating, the driver continued driving and the chase returned to SH1. .

The pursuit lasted an hour and five minutes – but did not exceed 110kmh as the truck was incapable of travelling any faster, Mr Jermy said.

The driver eventually stopped when the truck became more difficult to control.

A 25-year-old Palmerston North man had been arrested and faced numerous charges, including breach of bail, dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving whilst forbidden and robbery.

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LATEST:
Wanganui authorities already disagree over the enforcement of a new ban on gang patches, as gang members prepare to march the city’s streets in protest.

Wanganui District Council banned gang insignia from the city at its meeting yesterday, and the bylaw came into force at midnight.

Black Power was planning a mass ride through Wanganui around lunchtime today to protest the bylaw.

The bylaw gives police powers to fine patchwearers $2000 and to take their gang insignia from them.

Acting area commander Inspector Greg Hudson said any arrests today would “depend on the circumstances”.

Member and rally organiser Denis O’Reilly told 3 News the council’s issues with gangs had nothing to do with their patches.

“In each case, we’re going to police it with a commonsense approach.

Police would take a commonsense approach and enforce the bylaw on a case-by-case basis, he said.”

But Mayor Michael Laws told Radio New Zealand gang members who wore their gang patches in protest today would be arrested. To us, it’s no different – it’s business as usual – to a liquor ban.

“Honestly, Wanganui is going to become a very, very uncomfortable place if you’re a gang member or gang associate from now on.

“If there is [a protest] and they’re wearing their gang patches, we’d be delighted to arrest them. . And we’re delighted it’s going to be. uncomfortable for them. .

Wanganui’s gang situation was no worse than anywhere else in New Zealand but the city’s residents had “chosen to, in effect, have a dress code which does not include gang insignia”, he said.”

Meanwhile, Mr Hudson said police would appreciate if the public reported gang members wearing insignia in public.”

He said the bylaw was to protect the majority of residents, and the minority affected by the ban – the gang members – could test the bylaw in court.

“I think it’s the feeling of the community and like any democratic country, anything that makes the community feel safe and enhances their wellbeing has got to be of benefit.

Mr Laws said it was “extraordinarily” rare for Parliament to give a council such power.

BYLAW A ‘TRIUMPH’

Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws has described the bylaw as “a triumph for decency and democracy”.

“It removes gangs’ most powerful and intimidatory weapon.

“To ban gang patches and gang insignia will give a real fillip to Wanganui police and to Wanganui citizens,” he said.

Councillor Rob Vinsen called the move a publicity stunt and unnecessary.

Councillor Rob Vinsen called the move a publicity stunt and unnecessary.

“We haven’t got a gang problem in Wanganui,” Mr Vinsen said.

“The police said there were two incidents in 2009 and there were five incidents last year. . This is a publicity-seeking stunt from mayor Michael Laws, I’m afraid,” he told Newstalk ZB.

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Wellington relinquished rugby’s Ranfurly Shield in timid fashion when finishing a poor second to Canterbury at Westpac Stadium tonight. . The writing was daubed on the wall in thick red ink by halftime when Canterbury had powered their way to a 26-0 lead, leaving the home side gasping for breath as they searched for answers. Wellington captain Jacob Ellison said the memory of such a comprehensive defeat would linger for a long time. There were none, however, because Canterbury continued to apply all the pressure in the second half as well to regain the shield for the first time since 2007. We didn’t fire a shot and up front we were not too happy. “We won’t forget that one, it will hurt us deep. “We just did not fire in the set piece.” His Canterbury opposite George Whitelock could not be accused of hyperbole when he described his team’s performance as “pretty good”. We have to go back to the drawing board and sort it out.” All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter accounted for 21 points with his goalkicking return of eight-from-10 attempts, which complemented tries by skipper Whitelock, centre Tim Bateman and replacement hooker Corey Flynn. “We really dug in and showed what we got. Having lifted the shield off Auckland with a stunning 27-0 result last season, Wellington’s tenure ended at four matches after they’d seen off the challenges of Wairarapa Bush, Wanganui, Otago and Auckland. Canterbury were all over Wellington at the set piece, both scrum and lineout, and were too physical for the home side at the breakdown where they turned over possession regularly. They were not even in the contest tonight, finding themselves on the back foot from the outset as Canterbury threw themselves into their work. They were not even in the contest tonight, finding themselves on the back foot from the outset as Canterbury threw themselves into their work. Whitelock scored in the 19th minute when Wellington attempted to run their way out of trouble, only to see wing David Smith swallowed up by red and black jerseys just out from his own line. The Canterbury loose forwards trio of Whitelock, Michael Paterson and All Black Richie McCaw swamped the home side in the tackle, and backed up by their tight forwards, the visitors had both the intent and the numbers to call the shots. Canterbury’s superior scrum gave them a solid launching pad in the last minute of the half and they made it count when Bateman scored after accepting a clever offload from second five-eighth Ryan Crotty, who attracted three defenders. The Canterbury forwards arrived en mass and Whitelock emerged with the ball. Wellington continued to play a bit-part role in the match despite late tries to Hosea Gear and Ma’a Nonu which could not hide their deficiencies. The challengers stayed on top during the third quarter, even if they had only one Carter penalty to show for it until replacement hooker Corey Flynn used his low body position to burrow over the tryline from a ruck.

. Canterbury’s intensity had slipped by this stage and the Wellington backs appreciated the open space as a breakout by Smith ended with Gear crossing before lock Daniel Ramsay surged down the right-hand touchline before popping a delicate overhead pass to Nonu

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The 50 people who receive the most money in social welfare payments will be audited, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.

More than 300 beneficiaries receive more than $1000 a week and many in the top 50 have more than eight children.

Among those to be audited are a couple, both on the unemployment benefit for 15 years, with 10 children who receive $1200 a week, the New Zealand Herald reported.

“Should we look at it, I think so.

Prime Minister John Key said he supported the audit of the top 50 beneficiaries. .

“I think the taxpayer is entitled to know, at least, it’s been properly distributed,” he told TV One’s Breakfast.

The family’s details became available following a question from Labour in Parliament, Mr Key said.

“I think it needs to be fair, so we are ensuring people are getting what they need, but not more than they are entitled to.

Ms Bennett said there were “isolated cases where it seems like a lot of money”.

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Labour MP Annette King said the 168 on the DPB getting more than $1000 a week were a small proportion of the 104,000 people on that benefit

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A tearful 12-year-old girl’s interview about a sexual assault arranged by her father for $40 was all lies to get him in trouble, she told a court today.

The girl, who has name suppression, was the first of five children to give evidence at the High Court at Auckland via CCTV from an adjacent room.

She earlier fled from the room while her police interview was being played to the court, and the jury retired until she was found. He then forced her to go to the men, who placed her up against a wall in a Farmer’s car park and held her there.

During her police interview in September 2007, the girl said she saw her father talking to three men at McDonald’s in Manukau. .

She described one man who masturbated against her, while another man held her down and kissed her neck.

She said her father eventually got out of his car and told them to stop.

“He told me to get in the car and put my head down and stop crying. One of them said “she was good”, the girl said. My dad was really drunk,” she said. He told me not to tell anyone about what happened.

“I don’t want to be with him.

He was paid $40 then spent the cash on cannabis in Otahuhu after his daughter’s ordeal was over. I’m not safe with him,” she said. I’m not safe with him,” she said.

She said she did not know.

Mr Borich asked the girl if she made up the story because she said during the police interview that she wanted her father to go to jail. They have eight children.

Her 37-year-old father and 33-year-old mother, who both have name suppression, are charged with three counts of assault on a child, eight charges of cruelty to a child and one charge of intentional damage to a Housing New Zealand home in Manurewa. He is also charged with two counts of assault on his children.

The man is also charged with sexual conduct with his then 12-year-old daughter and injuring her with intent by inflicting repeated blows with a broom.

The cruelty charges include wilfully ill-treating the eight children in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering, physical and mental abuse, generating a climate of fear, providing unsuitable housing, causing and maintaining poor hygiene and allowing them to go hungry. All charges related to events between January 2005 and September 2007.

During her interview in September 2007, the girl spoke about the drinking and drug habits of her mother and father.

The man pleaded guilty to one assault charge, while all other charges are denied. Afterwards, he gets ‘mental as’ and beats us up for no reason. Afterwards, he gets ‘mental as’ and beats us up for no reason. Sometimes he tells me to go up between the ceiling and the roof. I’ve been up there for two days nearly every week this year. I just have to lie down and I’m not allowed to make any noise. I get water but no food. I do a toilet up there too,” she said.

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Policing in New Zealand’s biggest crime district is so disorganised that when a major investigation occurs staff are drawn from elsewhere, leaving police leaderless and working beyond their abilities.

The situation occurs in Counties Manukau Police District (CMD) where violent crime has risen by 46 per cent in the last five years. .

“The driver of much of the problems relating to crime investigation . is the high incidence of violent crime and the need to draw investigation staff from designated functions,” a report by former Detective Superintendent Neville Stokes says..”

Total CMD crime in five years is up 17 per cent against a national decrease of 0.

The draw off was “highly disruptive, soul-destroying, tends to devalue designated functions and impacts adversely on accountability and the leadership of Area CIB offices.

CMD did not have a dedicated serious crime section.7 per cent.

“The constant draw off of staff . Staff were always drawn off to help…

General duty police are left to investigate serious cases, “often beyond their abilities, while crimes they should be addressing remain unattended”. is disruptive and often leaves units without leadership and advice,” Mr Stokes says. Currently only six members of CMD are dedicated to this.

If CMD was able to launch “a major offensive against organised crime, gangs, drugs and alcohol” it would have significant potential for the community.

Family violence comprises 47.

Mr Stokes said family violence was the major district issue, with repeat victimisation up from 4089 to 4845 occurrences between 2007 and 2008.5 per cent of serious assaults.5 per cent of all grievous assaults and 65.

Even road policing is different in CMD where 80 per cent of cars exceed the 50 kmh speed limits compared to 64 per cent nationally, and 54 per cent exceed the 100 kmh limit compared to the national average at 30 per cent.

CMD records the highest number of child abuse files in the country.

Mr Stokes says CMD is the nation’s highest risk location for road trauma and subsequent ACC payouts.

Mr Stokes says CMD is the nation’s highest risk location for road trauma and subsequent ACC payouts.

He said the ability of CMD’s courts to cope with increased arrests was the greatest concern.

The average time for a defendant’s trial to take place from their first court appearance in Auckland District Courts was over 435 days. The New Zealand average was under 300 days.

Mr Stokes advised police on how a promised 300 extra sworn staff by the end of next year would be used. The district currently has 810 sworn police.

Mr Stokes says extra staff may not be the solution for CMD and may be counter-productive.

“There is a risk that the provision additional staff may be interpreted as confirming the wisdom of seeking additional staff rather than focusing on decreasing demand or increasing productivity.”

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LATEST:
Flight of the Conchords has received an Emmy nomination for best comedy series.

One half of the comedy duo, Jemaine Clement, has also been nominated for best actor in a comedy.

30 Rock picked up a leading 22 primetime nominations, including best comedy, best actress for its star and creator Tina Fey, and best actor for Alec Baldwin who all took home Emmys last year.

Nominations for United States’ television’s highest honours were announced overnight, with Tina Fey comedy 30 Rock and 1960s period drama Mad Men leading the list.

Another AMC show, Breaking Bad, was also among the drama and best actor nods.

But in a list that reflected the move of some of TV’s best writers to cable channels, last year’s winner Mad Men on AMC seized 16 nominations, including best drama, best actor and four of the five picks for writing.

“We don’t repeat ourselves, which every season gets a lot harder,” he said.

Mad Men creator Matt Weiner told that his writing staff worked hard to take the characters to deeper human levels each season.”

The number of nominations was expanded this year, allowing new contenders like the HBO polygamy series Big Love, AMC’s Breaking Bad, CBS comedy How I Met your Mother and HBO’s Flight of the Conchords to grab a piece of the Emmy action in a contest often criticised for getting stale. “You try to bring in new stuff and in a weird way, we’re getting better at it all the time.

“There is so much good work, we have really recognised the diversity on television today,” said John Shaffner, chairman and CEO of the Television Academy, which gives out the Emmys. . Broadcaster NBC earned 67 nominations, followed by ABC (55), CBS (49) and Fox (42).

Among networks, cable channel HBO lead with 99 nominations, while Showtime had 29 and AMC 23. But the fresh faces meant some old favourites were snubbed.

OUT WITH OLD, IN WITH NEW

The Academy said 41 of the 83 nominations for comedy and drama programs for the June 2008-May 2009 season were different from the previous year.

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Kiefer Sutherland of 24 got a single miniseries acting nomination for Fox’s 24: Redemption special, while Katherine Heigl of Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) got nothing despite supporting actress recognition for co-stars Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson

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A medical student who overcame a learning disability and was on his way to achieving his childhood goal of becoming a doctor has died after contracting meningitis.

Zac Gravatt, 22, died in Auckland City Hospital on Wednesday night, after being suddenly struck down by the disease.

The British-born trainee doctor had turned 22 less than a week earlier.

On the day he died, he rang his father, Lance Gravatt, to say he was so sick couldn’t sit up.

He had overcome dyslexia to get into medical school and was just two years away from becoming a doctor. . “I said to take fluid and Panadol and see a doctor,” a devastated Mr Gravatt told the New Zealand Herald.

Lance Gravatt said his son would be remembered as a “full-on” person with a love of parties, who had put in all the extra work to overcome his learning difficulties.

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Zac Gravatt’s funeral is due to be held in Auckland on Tuesday